Bottle washer handling mechanism



J. B. MCABE BOTTLE WASHER HANDLING MECHANISM June 22, 1954 Filed March 15 1951 un .N J.. lu Hlm. N w m WMI Nm, m I Q. g 1 mw N, \m\ /M o m W ld ,Ilm S. WH- J....... .MII in. au@ .m M E MW .M\, In X .Q Imm ul xxv www M G HM 0 wm um. .m .h N -Il Mmm n.0 N6, \m.|\\. w\^w. Q.N n u.u||.|nm| n, un.. l I x QW In hm. .MIM HW .m www ...wv an .uw W\\\\;.| QN fwnf. l WNY \`.|I .MUM

June 22, 1954 J. B. MCCABE BOTTLE WASHER HANDLING MECHANISM Filed March 15 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 22, 1954 J. B. MccABE 2,681,723

BOTTLE WASHER HANDLING MECHANISM Filed March l5, 1951 s sheet-sneet s 1N V EN TOR.

Patented June 22, 1954 BOTTLE WASHER HANDLING MECHANISM John B. McCabe, Shorewood, Wis., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Cherry-Burrell Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application March 15, 1951, Serial No. 215,746

( Cl. IBS-27) Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle washer handling mechanism.

The majority of presently available bottle Washing machines are very large in size and take up a relatively large amount of fioor space and head room. In certain of the present models approximately one-fourth of the total length of the machine is taken up by the ioading and unloading mechanism. In addition, while many of the present machines provide for the inspection of the cleaned bottles, in certain of these machines the inspection point is located so far away from the operator that proper inspection of the cleaned bottles is difficult.

Bottle washing machines as heretofore developed have been provided with more than one cam for controlling the movements of various portions of the mechanism, and proper operation requires very delicate timing adjustments of these cams, not only during the initial assembly or the maclrne, but also during any repair operations which require removal of a cam.

Another diiiiculty frequently encountered in prior machines is that of bottle breakage which results from failure of the dirty bottles to properly enter the bottle carrying baskets of the main conveyor at the loading station.

Still another` reason why certain prior `bottle washing machines have not been entirely satisfactory is the fact that there is no readily adjustable means for taking up slack in the main conveyor chains Without changing the spacial relationship between the baskets and the bottle retaining plates in a manner requiring adjustment of said plates.

With the above in mind, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved bottle washing machine which takes up much less space than previous models.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle washing machine having bottle loading and unloading mechanism, wherein the operation of said mechanism is controlled by a single cam.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle washing machine wherein the bottle loading mechanism is pivotally mounted to permit ready adjustment of its position for synchronization of the operation of said mechanism with the movement of the bottle carrying baskets.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle washing machine of the class described having means for automatically stopping the machine whenever a dirty bottle fails to properly enter a, basket at the loading station.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle washing machine having; mechanism for lifting dirty bottles into the open bottoms of one row of the bottle carrying baskets and for simultaneously discharging cleaned bottles from a next adjacent row of baskets by gravity.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of the class described, wherein the discharge conveyor and hence the inspection point for clean bottles is positioned substantially nearer to the operator than in prior machines, thereby insuring proper inspection of the cleaned bottles by the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle washing machine having a sprocket around which the main conveyor eX- tends, said sprocket being freely rotatable on a non-rotatable shaft which, in turn, is mounted in movable bearings; there being a bottle retaining member which is xed to said shaft, said member having a circular periphery positioned for engagement by the bottoms of bottles in the` conveyor baskets, whereby movement of said shaft longitudinally of the conveyor adjusts the tension of the conveyor without changing the spacial relationship between the bottle retaining member and the conveyor baskets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle washing machine which is relatively simple and compact in construction and which is so designed that clean bottles can drop by gravity from the conveyor baskets directly onto bottle transferring mechanism, the latter being adapted to transfer the bottles onto a discharge conveyor, and there being no need for mechanism to remove clean bottles from the baskets or to retard the lowering movement of the cleaned bottles.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved bottle washer and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and al1 equivalents thereof.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein is shown one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, and wherein like characters of reference indicate the same parts inail of the views:

Fig; 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the improved bottle Washing machine, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2y is an enlarged fragmentary transverse: vertical sectional view of one side of the improved bottle washer taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view of a portion of the opposite side of the improved bottle washing machine taken approximately along the line '-S of Fig. l, parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of the improved bottle washing machine showing the parts in an adjusted position; and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections to the driving motor and the safety switch.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the improved bottle washing machine comprises a housing 2 having a pair of spaced side frames t extending longitudinally thereof. A iiexible endless conveyor 4 is moved in a selected path through the housing 2, a portion of this path at the front end of the machine being shown in the drawing. The conveyor 4 is provided with a plurality of bottle carrying baskets or receptacles 5 which receptacles are supported in transverse horizontal rows one after another.

The bottles or containers to be washed are loaded into and unloaded from the baskets 5 at the forward end of the machine and at this loading and discharge station the conveyor 4 is trained around a pair of coaxial sprockets s and 'i which in turn are xedly mounted on a horizontal transverse shaft S. The shaft 8 is mounted at its opposite ends in suitable bearings carried by the side frames 3.

A pair of spaced transverse shafts d and ii) are also rotatably supported in suitable bearings on the side frames 3 rearwardly of the shaft El. A sprocket ii is fixed to one end of the shaft i@ and is driven Vby a chain l2, which in turn is driven by an electric motor it provided with a suitable gear reduction unit i4. A relatively small gear l5 is fixed to the shaft i@ and meshes with a relatively large gear it which latter is fixed to an end of the shaft Q. A relatively small gear il is fixed to the opposite end of the shaft Si and meshes with the relatively large gear it which is fixed to the adjacent end of the shaft t, as shown. It is apparent that through the gearing just described, operation of the motor i3 causes rotation of the sprockets 5 and l, which in turn move the conveyor 4 in the desired direction.

Each Vof the side frames 3 includes a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending structural members i9 and 2@ between which a slidf able bearing block 2l is mounted. The meinbers is and 2li are connected by a bar 22 extending therebetween, said bar having an adjustment screw 23 threaded therethrough and abutting the sliding block 2l, as shown. Non-rotatably supported at its opposite ends in the blocks 2i is a transverse shaft 24, and freely rotatable on the shaft 24 adjacent the blocks 'l and within the housing 2 is a pair of sprockets 25 and 2G around which the conveyor 4 is trained, as shown. Suitably fixed to the non-rotatable shaft 24, as through brackets 2l and 23, is an arcuate bottle-retaining plate 2s having a circular portion connecting the brackets 2l and 28, said portion being coaxial with the shaft 24. The retaining plate 23 extends forwardly and downwardly from the bracket 2l generally parallel with the conveyor 4, and at its forward end is slidably supported on a transverse angle inember 3i) which extends between the side frames 3. It is apparent that by adjusting the screw 23 the sliding blocks 2l can be moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, to move the sprockets 25 and 26 therewith and to thereby tighten the conveyor chain 4. It is apparent also that when the shaft 24 moves toward the right, the bottle retaining plate 29 moves therewith in an identical manner, to maintain a constant spacial relationship between the baskets 5 of the conveyor 4 and the retaining plate 29.

The side frames 3 each include an upright structural member 3| at the forward end thereof and a second upright structural member 32 of shorter length spaced rearwardly from the member 3|. The structural members 3l and 32 carry suitable bearings for rotatably supporting a pair of transverse shafts 33 and 34 respectively. The shafts 33 and 34 are provided with a plurality of spaced sprockets 35 between the side frames 3 (see Fig. 2), and a sprocket 35 may be fixed adjacent one end of the shaft 34 and driven by a chain 3l which in turn is driven by an electric motor 38 as shown in Fig. 1. The sprockets 35 on the shaft 33 are aligned with the sprockets 35 of the shaft 34, and extending around each pair of the aligned sprockets is an endless conveyor chain 39 having its conveying surface formed by a plurality of at plate members 40.

Extending longitudinally below the plate portions 40 of the upper stretches of the conveyor chains 3s are a plurality of supporting plates 4| which are centered between the sprockets 35 and are overlapped by the side portions of the adjacent conveyor plates 40 as shown in Fig. 2.

The supporting plates 4| are xedly mounted intermediate their length on studs or bosses 42 (see Fig. 1) which studs are in turn iixedly supported on transverse structural members 43 connected to the side frames 3. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a longitudinally extending divided plate 44 is fixedly mounted in a position spaced above the center line of each of the endless conveyors 39. The spacing between the conveyors 39, as well as the width of said conveyors is such that bottles positioned between the divided plates 44 are each supported by two conveyors 39.

Referring to Fig. 1, the housing 2 of the improved bottle washing machine has an arcuate front wall 45, the major portion of which is circular. The wall 45 depends from the top of the housing 2, and the arcuate portion thereof is preferably concentric with the shaft 8 and is spaced from the open bottoms of the baskets or pockets 5, as shown, to form a bottle retaining plate. Adjacent the lower end of the plate 45, a plate 46 (see Fig. 1) is fixed to one of the side frames 3 and a similar plate 41 (see Fig. 2) is xed to the other side frame 3, the plates 45 and 47 being preferably parallel with the frames 3 and with each other.

Mounted on the inner surface of the plates 46 and 4l are bearings 48 (see Fig. 1) and 48 (see Fig. 2) for pivctally receiving a pair of stub shafts which project from opposite ends of an angle member 563, the latter extending transversely between said plates. Fixed to the angle member 5@ is a transversely extending door 5| which is normally inclined upwardly with its upper edge portion in underlying engagement with the lower edge portion of the plate 45. Fixed to the angle member 59 at each end thereof is a forwardly projecting arm 52 having a roller 53 mounted at its outer end. The door 5|, when in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, serves as a continuation of the bottle retaining' plateA 45 and is normally held in this position: by suitable spring means (not shown). forwardly and downwardly to the` position of Fig. 4, and when in such position permits gravity discharge of bottles from pockets 5 aligned therewith.

Pivotally connected to each of the upright structural members 32;, as at 54 (seeFigs. 1 and 4) ,1 is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined shaft 55. The upper end portions of the shafts 55 are each positioned adjacent one of the plates 46 and 41, and said upper ends are connected by a transverse bar 56 which extends through a cutaway portion 5.1 (see Fig. 1) in the bottom edge of each of the plates 45 and 41. Projecting upwardly from each4 of the shafts 55 adjacent the outer surface` of the adjacent plate 46 or 41 isa head member 58 which is threaded to receive a bolt 59. The bolts 59` extend at a right angle to the shafts 55 and longitudinally of the machine, said bolts each being provided with a lock nut 69. Fixedly mounted on the outer surface of` each of the plates 46 and d1 is an L-shaped bracket 6| having an apertured outwardly projecting eye` portion 62 through which one of the bolts 59 extends. A coiled compression spring 63 surrounds each of the` bolts 59 and has its opposite ends in abutment with the adjacent head 53 and wtih the portion 62 of the adjacent bracket 6|. An adjustment nut 59 is threaded on the bolt 59 and abuts the sideof the portion 52 opposite the spring 63.

A normally closed electrical switch 64 is mounted on one of the frames 3 and has a swingable contact arm 65 positioned for engagement by the lower end of the` adjacent bolt 59 when the shafts 55 are pivoted a predetermined distance rearwardly about the bearing 54.

A plurality of spaced parallel angle members 66 (see Fig. 2) are fixed at one endto the transverse bar 56 and extend downwardly and forwardly toward the rear ends of the conveyors 39. A transverse angle member 61 is positioned below the conveyors 39 and is supported at each end by a bracket 68 fixed to one of the upright structural members 32. A plurality of spaced supporting brackets 69 are fixed to and project upwardly from the angle member 61,V said brackets each being fixedly connected to the lower end of one of the inclined angle members 66. As shown in Fig. 2, the angle members 65 each have their apexes aigned with one of the divider plates 44. The angle members 66 form bottle guiding troughs which are so disposed that the axes of bottles positioned therein are radial with respect to the axis of the sprocket shaft 6. Fixed to the upper ends of the angle members 66 and extending rearwardly is an arcuate plate 1i! which is preferably concentric with the shaft 8 and which extends rearwardly to overlie the forward end of the bottle retaining plate 29 above the supporting member 39, as shown in Fig. 1. The plate 1li. also servesV as a bottle re taining plate.

Mounted on each of the shafts 55 (see Fig. 2) is a slide block 1.1, and said slide blocks are connected to opposite ends of a transverse angle member 12. Fixed to and projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the angle member 12 is a plurality of spaced lifting fingers 13 having their upper ends positioned adjacent the forward. ends of' the supporting plates 4| and between` the trough-forming angle members 66.

A transverse shaft 14"` (see Figs. 1 and 4) isrotatably mounted in suitable bearings on eachlof The door 5I is, however, swingableiassi-,72e

theside frames 3` and has a bell crank lever 15s xed to each end thereof, outwardly of said frames. The forwardmost arm of each of the bell crank levers 15 is pivotally connected throughr a link 16 with one of the slide blocks 1li.

Fixed to one end of the shaft I6 (see Fig. 1)- outwardlyof one of the frames 3 is a cam 11, said; cam being formed on its inner surface with a cam groove 13. A bell crank lever 19 is pivotally mounted on the frame 3 adjacent the cam 11, said crank having a cam following roller 89 mounted on one arm thereof and positionedv in the cam groove 16. The other arm of the bell crank lever 19 is pivotally connected, through a ling rod 8i, to the rearmost arm of the bell crank lever 15. The link rod 3i may have an electrical safety switch 82 incorporated therein. As shown in Fig; 1, the cam groove 18 is of such conformation that it has two portions o; and b of constant radius, each 90 degrees in angular extent, the portion b having a smaller radius than the portion a, and the ends of said portions of constant radius being connected by portions of changing radius, each substantially 90 degrees in angular extent.

Extending below and parallel with the transverse angle member 61 is an angle member 83. Each end of the angle member t3 is xed to a cylindrical member 34. from which a shaft 85l depends. Each shaft 85 is axially slidably mounted in a bearing 86 on the adjacent frame 3, and surrounding the shaft 65 is a coiled compression spring 81 having its ends in abutment with the member 84 and with the bearing 66 as shown. Projecting outwardly and upwardly from each of the cylindrical member 84 is an L-shaped arm 88 which carries a roller 89 at its upper end. The rollers 89 are positioned to be engaged by the end portions of the forward arms of the bell crank levers 15 when the latter are in the position of Figs. 1 and 2. Adjustably xedto and projecting upwardly from the transverse angle member 63 are a plurality of stop fingers or rods 96 which slidably extend through suitablev apertures in the transverse member 61. The stop fingers 99 are aligned with the lifting fingers 13 and have their upper ends terminating immediately underneath the upper ends of the lifting fingers 13 when the latter are in their lowered position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fixed to the inner surface of the upper end portion of each of the upright structural members 32 is a vertical supporting plate 9i which is parallel with the frames 3. On the plates 9| is carried a box-like frame 92` for supporting an endless discharge conveyor 93. The discharge conveyor 93 is preferably of the same general type asthe conveyors 39. Extending adjacent the rear wall of the frame 9.2 is a transverse angle member 94 which has a stub shaft 95 fixed to each end thereof, said stub shafts being pivotally mounted in bearings 96 which are carried by the plates 9|. Fixed to each stub shaft 95 is an arm 91, each of the arms 91 having an end portion positioned in longitudinal alignment with one of the rollers 53. The arms 91 are of such length that they engage the rollers 53 when said arms are` swung rearwardly toward the position of Fig. 4.

Fixed to the angle member 6&1 and extending at substantially a right angle therefrom are a plurality of spaced parallel angle members 96 form'- ing bottle guiding troughs. The angle members 9'8- are equal in number and are longitudinally aligned with the angle mer. bers 66, and when the members 98are in upright position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the apexes of said members are positioned over the upper stretch of the discharge `conveyor 93. Comparing Figs. l and 4, it will be noted that the angle members 98 and the arms 91 are swingable about the axis of the stub shafts 95 from the upright position of Fig. 1 to the inclined position of Fig. 4. When the members 98 are in the latter position, the axis of a bottle positioned on a pair of the members 98 is radial with respect to the axis of the sprocket shaft 8. As shown in Fig. 4, the rear wall of the frame 92 is preferably provided with a plurality of cushion members 99 made of rubber or other suitable material, said cushion members having an angled upper surface adjacent the upper rear corner of the frame 92. The cushion members 99 are preferably positioned for engagement by bottles in the bottle guiding troughs formed by the members 00.

Fixed to one of the stub shafts 95 outwardly of its bearing 93 is an arm |00, and pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm is a link rod |0|. The cam.11 has an eccentric pin |02 projecting from the outer surface thereof. The axis of. said pin is preferably positioned on that radius of the cam 11 which passes through the trailing end of the cam groove portion b. The link shaft |0| is pivotally connected to the pin |02 as shown.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, numeral |03 indicates a starting box which may be mounted on the front of the machine and which forms part of the electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the main drive motor I3. The box |03 may contain a normally open push button switch |04, a normally closed push button switch |20, and a holding coil having a plunger |00 for simultaneously actuating three normally open switches |01, |00 and |09. Electrical conductors ||0, and ||2 each connect with a separate wire of a three-wire source of electricity and said conductors are also connected respectively with one contact of the switches |09, |08 and |01. Electrical conductors I3, lil and I5 respectively connect the other `contacts of the switches |01, |08 and |09 with the motor |3, as shown.

One contact of the push button switch |04 is connected to the conductor ||0 by means of a conductor H0, and one end of the coil |05 is connected to one contact of the push button switch |20. The other contact of the push button switch |20 is connected by a conductor ||1 to the conductor H2, as shown. A conductor ||8 connects one contact of the switch 04 with the conductor H5, and va conductor ||9 connects the other contact of the switch 00 with the other side of the switch |04 as well as with the other end of the holding coil |05.

It is apparent that closing of the push button switch |04 shunts the coil |05 across the conductors ||0 and ||2 to thereby energize said coil and close the switches |01, |08 and |09. This delivers electricity to the motor I3 and causes the same to operate. Since the holding coil |05, through the closed switches 3e and |20, is shunted across the conductors H5 and |12, said holding coil remains energized even after opening of the push button switch |04. The motor |3 will continue to run until either the safety switch 64 or the push button switch |20 is opened to break the circuit to the holding coil |05 and deenergize said coil.

Operation In operation, dirty bottles |2| are placed on the plates 40 of the feed conveyors 39 between the divider plates 44 and said bottles are moved rearwardly toward the bottle guiding troughs formed by the inclined angle members 66. With the parts of the machine in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rearmost bottle |2| in each longitudinal row moves into contact with a pair of inclined angle members 66 and assumes the inclination thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. W'hen the rearmost bottle |2| is so positioned, its axis is radial with respect to the axis of the shaft 3. At this point the cam follower 00 is positioned in the cam groove portion a. of greater constant radius.

Continuous operation of the motor I3 causes continuous movement of the sprockets 6 and 1 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and Li, and the cam 11 is simultaneously rotated in the same direction. It will be noted in Fig. l that an empty transverse row of baskets 5 is approaching the position indicated by the numeral |22 in Fig. 1where the axes of said baskets are coplanar with the axes of the inclined bottles |2|. By the time the empty baskets 5 have moved approximately half the distance from their position of Fig. 1 to the position |22 of Fig. Li, theY cam 11 has rotated to bring the follower to the cam groove portion of decreasing radius, and continued rotation of the cam swings the bell crank lever in a clockwise direction toward the position of Fig. 4 as the follower is moved toward the axis of the shaft by the cam groove. While the bell crank lever is so moving, the empty baskets 5 move to the position |22 of Fig. 4, and simultaneously, through 'the linkage connecting the bell crank 19 with the slide blocks 1|, the slide blocks 1| are raised along the shafts 55.

The transverse angle member 12 and the lifting fingers 13 are raised with the slide blocks 1|, and the inclined bottles |2| are raised by the lifting fingers 13 along the bottle guiding troughs formed by the angle members S0 and into the open bottoms of the transverse row of empty baskets at the position |22 of Fig. 4. Raising of the slide blocks 1| moves the forward ends of the levers 15 out of contact with the rollers 89, to permit the springs 01 to raise the transverse angle member 03 and the stop lingers 90 to the position of Fig. 4. The stop fingers, when in raised position, prevent rearward movement of any of the upright bottles on the conveyors 39 past said stop ngers.

The lifting ngers 13 when in raised position hold the bottles |20 thereon above the level of the plate 10,. and said fingers remain in this raised position during approximately degrees of rotation of the cam 11. During this time the conveyor Il is continuously moving in the direction indicated, so that the newly lled baskets 5 move away from the position |22 and the bottles therein slide along the upper surface of the plate 10.

The cam 11 continues to rotate, and the cam follower is thereby moved radially outwardly from the camgroove portion b through the cam groove portion of increasing radius to rotate the bell crank 19 back to the position of Fig. 1 and thereby cause lowering of the slide blocks 1| and lifting fingers 13 to the position of Fig. l. Downward movement of the forward arms of the bell crank levers 19 with the slide blocks 1| causes depression of the rollers 89, and as said rollers vcompressed as shown.

If for any reason a bottle should fail to properly enteran empty basket at the position 22 and hence not be raised by the lifting fingers 'i3 above the plate il?, the side of such a bottle would remain in abutment with the upper portions oi the angle members tit. Movement from the conveyor 4 is then imparted, through said bottle, to the upper ends of the members 66, swinging the latter rearwardly about the pivots 54 and against the action of the spring S3. This moves the bolt `59 rearwardly, into engagement with the arm 65 of the `switch 64, opening said switch. As previously described, opening of the contacts of the switch 64 while the motor i3 is in operation causes stoppage of said motor. Because of this safety feature breakage of bottles and damage to the machineis thereby prevented. Upon removal of the bottle, or upon correction of any other disarrangement, the machine can again be started by depressingthe push button IM.

It should be noted here that the position of the upper ends of the shafts 55, and hence of the upper ends of the angle members 56, can be readily changed by adjusting the nut be on the bolt 5S. This adjustment makes possible accurate timing adjustment for the synchronization of the conveyor il with the lifting of the bottles along the members St.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that a .transverse row of baskets 5 containing cleaned bottles |24 is approaching the discharge door 5l. As the baskets containing the cleaned bottles lili approach the position 123 shown in Fig. ll, the cam ll rotates the pin H32 forwardly. Through the link shaft im and arm ldd, this pin movement rotates the stub shafts 95 and angle members 74 to tilt angie members 98 and arms Si? to the position of Fig. 4. Rearward swinging movement of the arms 91 depresses the rollers dit and swings the discharge door iii to the open position shown in Fig. l.

Until the bottles Ifi reach the position 123,

they are held in their respective conveyor pockets by the retaining plate d5 and the closed door 5l, but upon reaching the position i213, said bottles are clear of the lower end of the retaining plate 45 and slide out of their pockets over the opened door 5i and downwardly along the inclined troughs provided by the angle members 58. It will be noted that when the parts are in the position of Fig. 4, the axes of the bottles #2li on the angle members 98 and of the conveyor pockets at the position H23 are radial with respect -to the axis of the shaft t, the same being true ci the pockets at the position |22 thereadjacent. As the bottles i211 slide downwardly `along the members 98, their downward movenient is arrested by thecushions 99.

Continued rotation of the cam 'il moves the angle members 9B and arms el to the upright position of Fig. 1, said movement causing placement of the clean bottles i211 on the discharge conveyor 93. Movement of the arms 9"! to upright position releases the rollers 53 and permits the spring means for the door 5i to return said door to closed position.

It will be noted that the discharge conveyor 93 is positioned close to the front of the improved machine, thereby greatly `facilitating the inspection of the cleaned bottles by an operator at the front of the machine.

The operation of the improved machine is substantially entirely automatic and is controlled by the single cam 1l. The positional arrangement of the parts makes possible the simultaneous loading of a row of empty conveyor pockets and the discharge of clean bottles from an adjacent row of pockets while both of said rows of pockets are disposed radially with respect to the shaft 8. This results in a relatively simple and compact construction. In addition, the improved bottle washer makes it possible to quickly adjust the tension on the conveyor chain, the conveyor chain adjustment being accompanied by a like adjustment of the bottle retaining plate 2Q so that the spacial relationship between said plate and the conveyor remains substantially constant.

Various changes and modiications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come `within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a bottle washing machine, a plurality of bottle carrying baskets having open bottoms mounted for movement past a loading station; power means for moving said baskets; bottle transferring means including a pivoted bottle guiding member at said loading station for inserting a bottle into one of said baskets through the open bottom thereof; a safety switch positioned for actuation by said pivotal bottle guiding member for stopping said power means; said pivoted bottle guiding member being moved by a portion of a bottle which projects from the bottom of a moving basket to operate said switch when a bottle is incompletely inserted in a basket.

2. In a bottle washing machine: a plurality of bottle carrying baskets mounted for movement past a loading station; power means for moving said baskets; bottle transferring mechanism for inserting a bottle into one of said baskets at said loading station; and a safety switch positioned for actuation by said bottle transferring mechanism and connected to said power means for stopping the latter ii' there is incomplete insertion of a bottle into a basket at the loading station, said bottle transferring mechanism including a movable abutment portion movable by a projecting part of an incompletely inserted bottle to cause actuation of said switch as said bottle is being moved away from the loading station by said basket.

3. In a bottle washing machine: a plurality of bottle carrying baskets mounted for movement past a loading station; power means for moving said baskets; a bottle guiding trough having a movable end positioned adjacent said loadstation; a bottle transferring member for moving a bottle along said trough and into one of said baskets at said loading station; and a safety switch positioned for actuation by said movable end of the bottle guiding trough and connected to said power means for stopping the latter upon incomplete insertion of a bottle into a basket at the loading station, said end of said trough being movable by a portion of an incompletely inserted bottle which projects from a basket to cause actuation of said switch as the bottle is being moved away from the loading station by said basket.

4. In a bottle washing machine: a plurality of bottle carrying baskets mounted for movement past a loading station; power means for moving said baskets; a bottle guiding trough having` a movable spring-loaded end positioned adjacent said loading station; a bottle transferring member for moving a bottle along said trough and into one of said baskets at said loading station; and asafety switch positioned for actuation by Vsaid movable end of the bottle guiding trough having-open botto-ms; means for moving said baskets successively past a discharge station with their open bottoms facing downwardly; a normally closed door pivotally mounted at said discharge station in a position to prevent graviti7 discharge of a bottle from a basket at said station, said doorhaving an operating arm; pivotally mounted bottle transferring mechanism having a portion movable to an inclined position adjacent said discharge station where it is adapted to receive a bottle discharged by gravity from a basket at said station; and a member xed to and movable with said transferring mechanism and positioned to engage the door` operating arm to move Ysaid door to open position as said transferring portion is moved to bottle receiving position.

6. In a bottle washing machine: an endless conveyor chain; a plurality of open bottomed bottle carrying receptacles xed to said chain with the axis of each of said receptacles at a right angle to said chain; a sprocket mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis and around which said chain is trained with the axes of the receptacles on said chain extending radially of said sprocket;

Y an inclined bottle guiding trough extending substantially radially of said sprocket, said trough having its upper end positioned for registration with the open bottom of one of said receptacles to feed bottles thereto; a movably mounted bottle guiding trough movable to an inclined position where it extends substantially radially with respect to said sprocket with the upper end of said trough positioned for registration with the open bottom of one of said receptacles; a movable door normally preventing discharge of bottles from the open bottoms of said receptacles;

Y and means responsive to movement of said movi ably mounted bottle guiding trough to said inclined position for automatically opening said door when said trough arrives at said position.

7. In a bottle washing machine: an endless conveyor chain; a plurality of open bottomed bottle carrying receptacles fixed to said chain with the axis of each of said receptacles at a right angle to said chain; a sprocket mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis and around which said chain is trained with the axes of the receptacles on said chain extending radially of said sprocket; a feed conveyor spaced below said sprocket; an inclined bottle guiding trough extending substantially radially of said sprocket, said trough having its lower end positioned to re- Y ceive Vbottles from said feed conveyor and having its upper end positioned for registration with the openrbottcm of one of said receptacles; a dis- Y charge conveyor spaced above said feed conveyor;

a pivotally mounted bottle guiding trough mounted adjacent said discharge conveyor, said latter trough being movable between an inclined position where it extends substantially radially with respect to said sprocket with the upper end thereof positioned for registration with the open bottom of one of said receptacles and an upright position over said discharge conveyor; a movable door normally preventing discharge or" bottles from the open bottoms or said receptacles; and means responsive to movement of said movably mounted bottle guiding trough to said inclined position for automatically opening said door when said trough arrives at said position.

8. In a bottle washing machine: an endless conveyor chain; a plurality of open bottomed bottle carrying receptacles fixed to said chain with the axis of each of said receptacles at a right angle to said chain; a sprocket mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis and around which said chain is trained with the axes of the receptacles on said chain extending radially of said sprocket;a feed conveyor spaced below said sprocket; an inclined bottle guiding trough extending substantially radially of said sprocket, said trough having its lower end positioned to receive bottles from said feed conveyor and having its upper end positioned for registration with the open bottom of one of said receptacles; a discharge conveyor spaced above said feed conveyor; a pivotally mounted bottle guiding trough mounted adjacent said discharge conveyor, said latter trough being movable between an inclined position where it extends substantially radially with respect to said sprocket with the upper end thereof positioned for registration with the open bottom oi one of said receptacles and an upright position over said discharge conveyor, said latter trough when inclined having its upper end positioned for registration with a receptacle which is next adjacent the one with which the upper end ci the iirst-mentioned trough is in registration; a movable door normally preventing discharge of bottles from the open bottoms of said receptacles; and means responsive to movement of said movably mounted bottle guiding trough to said inclined position for automatically opening said door when said trough arrives at said position.

9. In a bottle washing machine: an endless conveyor chain; a plurality of open bottomed bottle Ycarrying receptacles iixed to said chain with the axis of each of said receptacles at a right angle to said chain; a sprocket mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis and around which said chain is trained with the axes of the receptacles on said chain extending radially of said sprocket; a feed conveyor spaced below said sprocket; an inclined bottle guiding trough extending substantially radially of said sprocket, said trough having its lower end positioned to receive bottles from said feed conveyor and having its upper end positioned for registration with the open bottom of one of said receptacles; bottle lifting mechanism for moving a bottle upwardly along said trough; a discharge conveyor spaced above said feed conveyor; a pivotally mounted bottle guiding trough mounted adjacent said discharge conveyor, said last-mentioned trough being movable between an inclined position, where it extends substantially radially with respect to said sprocket with its upper end positioned for registration with'the open bottom of one of said receptacles to receive a bottle discharged by gravity from said receptacle, and an upright position over said discharge conveyor; said last-mentioned trough when inclined having its upper end positioned for registration with a receptacle which is next adjacent one with which the upper end of the rstmentioned trough registers; a movable door normally preventing discharge of bottles from the open bottoms of said receptacles; and means responsive to movement of said movably mounted bottle guiding trough to said inclined position for automatically opening said door when said trough arrives at said position.

10. In a bottle washing machine, a plurality of longitudinally aligned bottle carrying baskets having open bottoms; means for moving said baskets successively past a discharge station with their open bottoms facing downwardly; a normal- 1y closed door movably mounted at said discharge station in a position to prevent gravity discharge of a bottle from a basket at said station, pivotally mounted bottle transferring mechanism having a portion movable to a position adjacent said discharge station where it is adapted to receive a bottle discharged by gravity from a basket at said station; and means responsive to movement of said transferring mechanism portion to said posltion for opening said door.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i Number Name Date 1,759,506 Hauk May 20, 1930 1,787,983 Hippenmeyer Jan. 6, 1931 1,873,845 Meyer Aug. .23, 1932 1,906,974 Ladewig et al May 2, 1933 1,913,947 Otto June 13, 1933 2,124,423 Ladewig et al. July 219, 1938 2,257,758 Murch Oct. 7, 1941 `2,354,482 Sandberg July 25, 1944 2,371,140 Alling et al Mar. 13, 1945 2,533,784 Fruhling Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 581,404 Great Britain Oct. 11, 1946 

